08 Transmission Question

[TechJunkie]

I bought my 08 in April of last year and shortly after that I posted a question about my transmission. The general advice was ride it. Since that time I have placed 8K on the odometer and I still have one issue with my FJR that I believe is a problem.

When shifting from 1st to 2nd, the sift feels rough like the gear dogs are skipping one or two positions before making. Last year it actually popped back to neutral a couple of times when this happened. Now it always goes into gear but just hear and feel the popping in the shifter. The strange thing is it doesn't do it all of the time. I have been able to find one sequence that replicates this. If I am in first and then pull in the clutch and coast to a stop. When taking off and going from 1st to 2nd it occurs. It also sporadically happens when the engine is really hot in traffic.

I took it to the dealership last fall and the service manager rode it and said that he could not detect anything. He called Mammy Yammy and they said they had no reported issues with this. He said he made a note on my service record just in case.

I keep wanting to think this is just the way this tranny is but also don't want to ignore a potential problem.

Just looking for any insight from more experienced owners.

 

[03HiYoSilver]

Tech,

I believe there has been, albeit rare, some not quite right transmission problems. If it were me, I would ask for an appt. at the dealership with the Reg. Service Rep and have them take a look at it.

You do have to Call Customer Service to make this arrangement.

IF you don't have the YES plan... don't waste anytime on doing this.

Good Luck with your solutions.

 

[Violione]

Tech,
I believe there has been, albeit rare, some not quite right transmission problems. If it were me, I would ask for an appt. at the dealership with the Reg. Service Rep and have them take a look at it.

You do have to Call Customer Service to make this arrangement.

IF you don't have the YES plan... don't waste anytime on doing this.

Good Luck with your solutions.

+1

Don't wait -- Just do it now!!! If you don't have YES call D & H in Cullman, AL 1-877-3-YAMAHA. Best $384 you'll ever spend!!

 

[TechJunkie]

Tech,
I believe there has been, albeit rare, some not quite right transmission problems. If it were me, I would ask for an appt. at the dealership with the Reg. Service Rep and have them take a look at it.

You do have to Call Customer Service to make this arrangement.

IF you don't have the YES plan... don't waste anytime on doing this.

Good Luck with your solutions.

+1

Don't wait -- Just do it now!!! If you don't have YES call D & H in Cullman, AL 1-877-3-YAMAHA. Best $384 you'll ever spend!!

Being a newbie, I asked the dealer where I bought my FJR about YES and they said they didn't sell YES. Instead they sold a different warranty. I looked it up and it seemed ok and the price was good for and additional four years. Since then I have learned better. I actually thought about buying the YES as well from D & H. Not sure if YES is still an option since I am two months out of factory warranty.

My luck the tranny has a real issue and the extended warranty I have will do nothing. The service manager backed up the warranty and said he has always had good luck having repairs covered. I still would feel better with YES and take my loss on the other warranty as a learning lesson. Would still be cheaper than the price to rebuild the tranny if a real problem existed.

Just hoping someone might have experience with the same shifting issue. I must say the issue has gotten better as time goes on, just concerned that it is still there. Thought about soaking the clutch plates and seeing if that helped anything. Couldn't hurt.

 

[03HiYoSilver]

Tech,

Being you are not sure on what your warranty covers, see if you past Service Manager will bridge his past notes with your expressed problems and service.

If you personally do the Clutch Plates, etc, yourself, you may Really jeopardize your potential warranty claim.

 

[TechJunkie]

Tech,
Being you are not sure on what your warranty covers, see if you past Service Manager will bridge his past notes with your expressed problems and service.

If you personally do the Clutch Plates, etc, yourself, you may Really jeopardize your potential warranty claim.

Great point! I had not thought about that. I am ready for my 8K service and had thought about asking what they would charge to clean and soak the clutch plates. I figured the labor would not be worth it but didn't think about voiding my extended warranty if I did it. Thanks for mentioning it. :drinks: :drinks: I will call and talk to him. I also need to have my ignition replaced. I figured with everything they would have it overnight anyway.

 

[ttooee]

[

When taking off and going from 1st to 2nd it occurs. It also sporadically happens when the engine is really hot in traffic.

Hey TechJunkie,

When you shift, do you pull the clutch level all the way in untill it touches the handle. At low speed, it is critical that you pull the clutch until it completely dissengage.

What idle speed is your bike idles at? Try setting the idle speed at the lower range like 1000 rpm. I set mine at 850-900 rpm. This makes shifting alot easier and softer.

Let me know if you need instruction to lower the idle speed. It is pretty easy.

 

[ttooee]

Thought about soaking the clutch plates and seeing if that helped anything. Couldn't hurt.

Don't soak the plates. It does not hurt, but it does not help either. Try setting the idle speed at the lower range like 1000 rpm. I set mine at 850-900 rpm. As the outside temperature get hotter the idle speed will go up a little bit too. If your idle speed is already max out at 1150 rpm, then when the outside temperature heat up the rpm goes over the max idle limit and causes shifting problem.

 

[TechJunkie]

[

When taking off and going from 1st to 2nd it occurs. It also sporadically happens when the engine is really hot in traffic.

Hey TechJunkie,

When you shift, do you pull the clutch level all the way in untill it touches the handle. At low speed, it is critical that you pull the clutch until it completely dissengage.

What idle speed is your bike idles at? Try setting the idle speed at the lower range like 1000 rpm. I set mine at 850-900 rpm. This makes shifting alot easier and softer.

Let me know if you need instruction to lower the idle speed. It is pretty easy.

idle is set at 1100. It was at around 800 when I got it but had it die a couple of times when revving. The shifting issue only seems to occur in 2nd now. I used to notice it in other gears from time to time which is why I was worried about the clutch. I definitely pull the clutch lever all of the way in. It doesn't do this now in any other gear but 2nd and only sometimes, that is the frustrating thing, and now not all of the time.

Just curious what could be going on in the tranny to cause this. seems like sometimes something is not sliding correctly or far enough. I also notice that while other gears don't do this, sometimes the tranny is click click click and sometimes it is clack clack clack.

Just seems they would have built the tranny to be precision and that it would work the same each time.

 

[buf2phx]

[

When taking off and going from 1st to 2nd it occurs. It also sporadically happens when the engine is really hot in traffic.

Hey TechJunkie,

When you shift, do you pull the clutch level all the way in untill it touches the handle. At low speed, it is critical that you pull the clutch until it completely dissengage.

What idle speed is your bike idles at? Try setting the idle speed at the lower range like 1000 rpm. I set mine at 850-900 rpm. This makes shifting alot easier and softer.

Let me know if you need instruction to lower the idle speed. It is pretty easy.

idle is set at 1100. It was at around 800 when I got it but had it die a couple of times when revving. The shifting issue only seems to occur in 2nd now. I used to notice it in other gears from time to time which is why I was worried about the clutch. I definitely pull the clutch lever all of the way in. It doesn't do this now in any other gear but 2nd and only sometimes, that is the frustrating thing, and now not all of the time.

Just curious what could be going on in the tranny to cause this. seems like sometimes something is not sliding correctly or far enough. I also notice that while other gears don't do this, sometimes the tranny is click click click and sometimes it is clack clack clack.

Just seems they would have built the tranny to be precision and that it would work the same each time.

I'm guessing you don't have much experience with mass production. With so many possible variables,it's hard to make something mechanical that works the same every time. Different oil temps,oil condition,enging speed,length of time the clutch is pulled in,ammount of force in the flick of the toe against the shifter, all play into how the transmission shifts. If you are still under the factory warranty, I'd recommend purchasing the YES plan. I doubt that this is anything more than an intermittent glitch, but if it is then you're covered. Other than that, I'd say just enjoy the ride.

Mike

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

I bought my 08 in April of last year and shortly after that I posted a question about my transmission. The general advice was ride it. Since that time I have placed 8K on the odometer and I still have one issue with my FJR that I believe is a problem. When shifting from 1st to 2nd, the sift feels rough like the gear dogs are skipping one or two positions before making. Last year it actually popped back to neutral a couple of times when this happened. Now it always goes into gear but just hear and feel the popping in the shifter. The strange thing is it doesn't do it all of the time. It also sporadically happens when the engine is really hot in traffic.

I took it to the dealership last fall and the service manager rode it and said that he could not detect anything. I keep wanting to think this is just the way this tranny is but also don't want to ignore a potential problem.

Just looking for any insight from more experienced owners.

The shift from 1st to 2nd should be just like all the other shifts -- with the exception of being a little longer (not nec. 'longer' for you -- but, maybe for trans parts) because of the neutral 'jog' on the shift drum. And, the lower gears are a little bigger so anything that needs to slide may be a little bigger/heavier, too.

Given a nice 'snick' ("flick") of the gearshift lever the trans should go from 1st to 2nd without a problem.

If you have a problem (and want Yamaha to fix it) you need to find a service manager/dealer tech who recognizes your problem -- everything (warranty-wise) follows.

Good luck.

 

[wfooshee]

You might try adjusting the shifter so your foot has a shorter lift for an upshift. Just maybe your upshift is a little "lazy." I found myself getting neutral instead of second several times when I got the bike, and lowering the shifter helped immensely.

 

[TechJunkie]

You might try adjusting the shifter so your foot has a shorter lift for an upshift. Just maybe your upshift is a little "lazy." I found myself getting neutral instead of second several times when I got the bike, and lowering the shifter helped immensely.

Adjusted the shifter already but good suggestion.

 

[TechJunkie]

I bought my 08 in April of last year and shortly after that I posted a question about my transmission. The general advice was ride it. Since that time I have placed 8K on the odometer and I still have one issue with my FJR that I believe is a problem. When shifting from 1st to 2nd, the sift feels rough like the gear dogs are skipping one or two positions before making. Last year it actually popped back to neutral a couple of times when this happened. Now it always goes into gear but just hear and feel the popping in the shifter. The strange thing is it doesn't do it all of the time. It also sporadically happens when the engine is really hot in traffic.

I took it to the dealership last fall and the service manager rode it and said that he could not detect anything. I keep wanting to think this is just the way this tranny is but also don't want to ignore a potential problem.

Just looking for any insight from more experienced owners.

The shift from 1st to 2nd should be just like all the other shifts -- with the exception of being a little longer (not nec. 'longer' for you -- but, maybe for trans parts) because of the neutral 'jog' on the shift drum. And, the lower gears are a little bigger so anything that needs to slide may be a little bigger/heavier, too.

Given a nice 'snick' ("flick") of the gearshift lever the trans should go from 1st to 2nd without a problem.

If you have a problem (and want Yamaha to fix it) you need to find a service manager/dealer tech who recognizes your problem -- everything (warranty-wise) follows.

Good luck.

I thought it might just be the way I was shifting since the service manager said he didn't detect anything. I focused on my clutch and shifting to ensure I was being consistent. After two oil changes it got better but still some 1st to 2nd shifts sound like (click, click, snap) where most sifts are just a click. Other times 1st to 2nd is just click. I also noticed today when riding 2 up with my 15 year old son on the back that when it happened it was much more pronounced than when I am by myself.

I guess I just need to either convince the service manager to take the issue more seriously and test the bike more thoroughly or find a service manager that will take the time. I do have an extended warranty on the bike.

I am due for my 8K service and need tires. I will see what I can get done. Bike does run perfectly otherwise and love it regardless.

 

[Scout]

Reading this makes me think a bit about the way my FJR shifts. I've never complained since it shifts so much better than my old 1979 XS1100, but it usually takes a bit more to shift first to second. The only time I've heard clicking sounds from the tranny is when I try to put it into first while rolling too fast. The shift quality does indeed vary from time to time based on how adept I am with the clutch, throttle, how hot it is, etc... it's definitely not the same every shift.

Couple of thoughts. First, you might try bleeding the clutch line. When I was having the old dragging clutch problem on my bike, I bled the clutch with new fluid and kept getting air bubbles out the bottom.

Second, what kind of oil are you using? Switching oil to a good synthetic can have a remarkable affect on the smoothness of shifting.

 

[08FJR4ME]

I thought Momma Yami just made crappy tranny's. 1'st to 2'nd= click,click,click clack and it's in. Also noticable in other gears but not as pronounced.

Same issues on my tranny but i do have a YES warranty. Sooooooo when it really ****'s ime hoping for a new one. <_<

 

[Harald]

I've also noticed some "lack of smoothness" when shifting from 1 to 2. Sometimes it feels like something is catching before engagement. I'm not a newbie to riding and never had this problem in any other bikes I've owned (starting back in 1980 with a '78 GS750). Maybe I was just spoiled by my last bike - a Honda CBR1100XX?

I will say ditto to wfooshees suggestion to adjust the shifter. Mine is down to where the shifter is lined up the lower mark and it helps smooth out the shifts.

 

[Capt. Bob]

Does it ever pop out of gear while in 2nd if you crank down hard on the throttle?

Slightly askew shift fork?

 

[madmike2]

Coming from left field....he asks....just out of curiosity....

...at what RPM are you shifting? FJRs are notoriously bad when shifted at low RPMs. Even my XS1100 would shift decently at 2,000 rpms but my FJR is much happier over 3500 rpms. When it was newer 4k was it's happy place.

If you are "short shifting" (at 2000 rpms, for instance) that might cause the issue you are describing.